Magnetic clutch



Jan, 5 1926i." 7 1,568,305

E. T. WILLIAMS MAGNETIC CLUTCH Filed Oct. 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l WWW Jan. 5 1926.

E. T. WILLIAMS l 2 hausters, and the like,

or other" rotating shaft Patented Jan. '5, 1926.

EDWARD'T. WILLIAMS, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

' MAGNETIC CLUTCH.

Application filed. October 15, 1923.- Scrial No. 668,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Magnetic Clutches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In machines for handling gases, as for example pumps, compressors, blowers, ex-

in which a driving extends out of the machine for connection with an external shaft, considerable difliculty is experienced in preventing leakage out of or into the machine or casing, along or around the shaft. One method which has been proposed for meeting the conditions mentioned is to couple the two shafts magnetically, and cover the outer end of the inner shaft hermetically by means of a cup of nonmagnetic metal which will permit the magnetic flux of the driving element, rotating around the cup, to pass to the driven element housed in the cup. My present invention relates to this method of connection, and its chief object is to provide a coupling in which the energizing coil or winding, by which the magnetic flux is produced, may be stationary, thereby dispensing with slip rings or other moving contacts for carrying the energizing current to and from the wind- .ing. Tothis and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combina- ,tions of elements hereinafter described.

- One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the axis of the coupling.

2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig.

In the drawing, 10 represents the wall of a compressor or other machine, having a neck 11, constituting a bearing for a shaft 12 and provided with a radial flange or wall 13 which is removably fastened to the end of, and forms the cover of, a shell or cage 14 which is itself coaxial with the armature shaft 15 of the driving motor 16. The shell.

or cage is fastened to and carries the motor casing. In'the preferred construction the compressor is also carried or supported by the-kshell 14, through the agency of the mac 11.

The outer end of the neck 11 is extended v outer in the form of a cup 17 to receive the hub 18, of the driven coupling member 19, by

which said coupling member is firmly connected to the shaft, as shown. This coupling member is preferably recessed in its face, as indicated, to save weight. The shell 20, composed ofthin non-magnetic sheet metal, encloses the coupling member and is hermetically sealed to the neck 11 by means of a flange 21 and clamping ring 22 of dielectric material, as for example the material commonly known as. bakelite, the flange 21 being secured to the cup or shell 17 and providing around the latter, in conjunction with the flange 13, a deep annular recess in which is seated the energizing winding or coil 23. This coil is stationary.

and is connected to the source of current not shown) by means of suitable binding posts or terminals, of which one is shown at 24c. The annular driving coupling member 25 surrounds the driven member 19 outside of the sealing shell 20 and is carried on the armature shaft 15 by means ofa spider 26. Both coupling members are provided with the same number of radial teeth, those on the outer member projecting inwardly and those on the inner member projecting outwardly, as shown. Both sets of teeth run close to the sealing shell 20, preferably with minimum clearance, and the outer surface of the outer member runs close to the rib '27 on the inside of the shell or cageld. It will of course be understood that the two coupling members, the hub 18, flange 13 and shell 14 are made of iron or steel.

The magnetic circuit, when current is flowing through the coil 23, is indicated by the arrows.v Inasmuch as the iron of the teeth on the twc coupling members is more permeable to the lines of force than is the air in the recesses between the teeth the magnetic flux will be confined practically to the teeth, with very little leakage. If the motor is running, thereby revolving the coupling'memher, the latter can revolve around the inner member only by distorting the lines of-force passing through the sealing shell 20, but since such distortion is strongly i te thfinefi result is that the inner membe understood that by suitable modification, well understood by electrical engineers, alternating current may be employed.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction herein specifically illustrated and described but can be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a machine of the class described, having acasing and a shaft extending through the same, said casing having a tubular extension coaxial with and surrounding the outer end of the shaft; of an inner magnetic coupling member having a hub extending into said tubular extension and secured to the end of the shaft therein, a sealing cup enclosing the coupling member and sealed around the outerend of said tubular extension, an outer magnetic coupling member rotatable around the inner member outside of the sealing cup,

a sealin cu GIIClOSID lZhG cou lin memi b 23 her and hermetically sealed to the tubular extension, an outer rotatable coupling member rotatable surrounding the inner coupling member outside of the sealing cup, and a stationary magnetizing winding surrounding the tubular extension between the said end wall and sealing cup and having a magnetic circuit through the end wall, shell, both coupling members, an'd'the hub.

3. The combination with a driving motor having a driving shaft, of a shell coaxial with said shaft and having one end attached" to the motor for support thereby, an outer annular magnetic coupling member carried by said shaft for rotation thereby and having its outer surface close to the inner surface of the shell, an end wall mounted on the other end of the shell and carried thereby, said wall having an opening coaxial with said shaft and a coaxial tubular member extending inwardly around'said opening, a driven shaft extending through said opening into the tubular member, a sealing cup hermetically sealed to the tubular member and extending into the annular coupling member, a magnetic coupling member enclosed in said sealing on and having a hub extending into the tubula cured to the driven shaft therein, and a stationary magnetizing winding surrounding the tubular member inside of the shell between the end wall thereof and the sealing cup, and having a magnetic circuit through said hub, end wall, shell, and both coupling members.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

EDWARD T. WILLIAMS.

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